Parka



Oct. 18, 1938. sHANHoUsE 2,133,907

PARKA Filed May l2, 1938 a 29 a 2623 Z 9 Patented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PMI-:Nrk o1=1=1cE Claims.

This invention relates to a combined jacket and hood commonly known as a parka and used for sports and general outdoor winter wear.

The general object of the invention is to pro- '5. `vide a garment of the character indicated which will readily conform to the wearers body, head and neck, which will not pull or draw when the wearer turns or moves his head into various positions with respect to his body, one which will not cramp, bind or resist the wearers head and neck movements but which, on the contrary, will give the wearer complete and comfortable freedom of head, shoulder and neck movements relative to his body, and one which may be made to fit snugly about the Wearers neck, shoulders and head under all ordinary conditions of use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a parka so constructed and arranged that the hood part may be folded into the interior of the jacket part when not in use and spread out at across the interior surface of the back of the garment,

so that the jacket has the appearance and fit of an ordinary unhooded jacket.

The invention also resides in the novel mounting of the hood which facilitates closing of `the hood around the front of the wearers neck.

Other objects will be appreciated and understood after reading the following description and claims and after viewing the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a parka or other similar garment exemplifying one embodiment of the invention, the hood of the garment being shown in its raised position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the garment of Fig. l with the hood arranged in its lowered posit'ion.

Fig. 3 is a. front fragmentary view of the garment of Fig. 1 with the jacket thrown open to show the arrangement of the hood when in its 4o lowered position and hanging freely, the garment having the appearance in this view that it has when grasped at points adjacent the ends of the collar and suspended from such points.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View in front elevation of the lower part of the hood and upper shoulder portions of the garment shown in Fig.A 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged vertical sectional views through the collar and neck portions of the garment with the hood positioned respectively as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,.

Fig. 'l is a perspective View of a modified form of parka embodying the invention.

The parka chosen for illustration of the invention in Fig. l comprises a jacket part or body indicated at I0 and a hood generally designated II. The jacket comprises two or more portions I2 which provide the main covering for the front and back of the wearer and sleeves I3.

The various parts of the jacket illustrated may be composed of any of the usual relatively heavy,

stiff and inelastic or unyielding materials suitable for the uses and purposes to which the garment is to be adapted. The pattern may call for construction from any number of pieces of material seamed together in any desirable manner as will be understood. Generally speaking, the details of construction are relatively immaterial as is the means used to effect the closing of the front of the garment. In the present embodiment, the'front panels are fastened together by an ordinary slide fastener commonly known as a zipper designated I4, the interengaging parts of which are designated I5 (Fig. 5).

In parkas heretofore available, it has been customary to arrange the hood part of the garment so that when not in use it falls or drops down the back of the wearer on the outside of the jacket. In such case, the hood forms a bulky, loose mass of material on the Wearers back which is a source of some annoyance and detracts from the appearance of the garment. Moreover,` the hood is likely to fall down over the wearers head whenever he stoops over and, in general, interferes with his movements. In order to overcome these difculties, I have provided an improved garment in which the hood may be folded so as to hang downwardly within the jacket, when not in use,- and spread out over the interior surface of the back of the jacket so that it lies smoothly across the back of the wearer `(Figs. 2 and 3). When the hood is thus positioned within the jacket, the garment has the appearance and t of an ordinary mackinaw or sportv jacket.

'I'he hood II is preferably fashioned in` such manner that it may be spread out in flat form to lie smoothly across the wearers back when folded inwardly and downwardly. For'this purpose, the hood may be formed from a single piece I6 of the same heavy material as the jacket proper, side margins 20 and one end margin cut with` arcuate edge portions `I'I intersecting at a central point I9. Interengageable zipper parts 22 are secured along the portions II and coact with a slide ZI to effect closure of the hood over the top of the wearers head as shown in Fig. 1.

' For several reasons to appear presently, the hood is preferably secured to the jacket part by a strip of elastic material shown in the form of a band 23. 'Ihis band may be composed of knitted fabric which, as is well known, is inhershown in Fig. 1.

Y by the strings 29.

ently resilient and elastic and will fold readily without substantial bulkiness. Of course, the band may be composed of other relatively flexible or elastic materials such as materials of a loosely woven or knitted character within which rubber strands or bands have been interwoven or otherwise incorporated.

The band or strip 23 is illustrated as composed of knitted wool fabric of double thickness, that is, the fabric has been folded upon itself along a lengthwise fold. The strip is stitched to the lower end margin of the hood along its one side edge 24 and its end edges 25 (Fig. 4) so that it is in effect inset into a notch or recess into the base of the hood. The lower edge of the strip 23 is stitched to the inside of the jacket lil at 26 along the seam joining the neck ofthe jacket to a collar 21. Thus, the collar hides the seam and surrounds the base of the hood. The hood itself is also stitched directly to the jacket at points 28 (Fig. 4) at the lower end corners of the flexible neck band 23. 'I'his stitching prevents undue distortion of the band 23 by either an endwiseor transverse pull without interfering with the various desirable actions of the neck band resulting from its resilient construction. By so attaching the hood to the jacket, the band 23 forms a readily flexible joint between the hood and jacket which folds compactly and permits the hood to hang downwardly inside of the jacket without producing any bulkiness or an uncomfortable fold around the wearers neck. As shown in Fig. 3, the hood is hanging freely within the jacket in the position it occupies when the jacket is held up, for example, for inspection by grasping it at points adjacent the ends of the collar and suspending it from such points. When the jacket is on a wearer, the hood is pressed back flat against the inner side of the jacket by the curvature of the wearers back and, in such case, its side edges do not overlap the armholes so that it is apparent thatvthe hood does not interfere in any way with the insertion of the wearers arm into the armholes or with the freedom of movement of his arms. Y

When the hood I is in use as a head covering, the zipper 2| is pulled forward to the front edges of the hood so that the latter takes the shape The lower front corners of the hood may then be secured together under the wearers chain as, for example, by tie strings 29. In order that the hood may t snugly against the wearers cheeks and under his chin and about the front of the throat, the points 28 of attachment of the hood panel ||i to the neck of the jacket are spaced inwardly from the marginal edges 29 thereb-y forming flaps 30 at the lower front corners of the hood. By this means the hood is fitted snugly about the front of the wearers throat. The neck band 23 extending only partially around the neck affords all of the freedom'of movement requiredand yet permits the hood to be pulled snuglyunder the wearers chin These strings are also preferably used to'draw the front marginal edges about the cheeks and forehead of the wearers face. ForV this purpose the strings 29 are arranged as draw strings within the forward edge portion 29@1 of the hood which is doubled back and seamed at 29b to form a space receiving the draw strings. The upper endsy of the draw strings 29 are anchored to the hood at 29. Consequently, when the strings 29 are crossed under the wearers chin and pulled tight, the front edges of the hood are drawn snugly about the wearers face.

The flexible band or strip 23, when constructed as above described and located at the junction of the hood and the jacket body, also performs important functions in addition to permitting the hood to be folded neatly within the jacket. For example, when the hood is in use, considerable strain is apt to be exerted on the wearers head when'the head is bent forwardly and downwardly. Under this tension, the band will, due to its elasticity and ready extensibility give or stretch transversely. The strain is thus relieved and greater freedom of movement of the wearers head is allowed. Furthermore, by providing for such an-easily extensible connection between the neck of the jacket body and the central portion of the hood, the hood may be made to fit the wearers head more snugly while at the same time being comfortable to the wearer in all positions of his body and head;

A modified form of parka embodying certain aspects of the invention has been shown in Fig. 7. This garment comprises, in general, a jacket part 3|, a hood part 32, and sleeves 33. The jacket part is substantially identical with the jacket partV I in Fig; 1 except that the roll collar has been omitted. Similarly, the hood 32 also closely resembles the hood of the garment shown in Fig. 1 except that the base portion of the hood 32 has no notch for an inset neck band. Instead, a resilient flexible neck band 35 is attached to the lower margin of the hood throughout its length as well as to the adjacent marginal edges of the neck opening in the jacket 3|. The band 35 terminates with its front edges substantially flush with the forward edges of the hood and the jacket.

As in the case of the neck band 23 of the garment of Fig. 1, the neck band 35 is preferably made of a strip of knitted material doubled upon itself. By using such a pliable and flexible material, the base of the hood can be drawn snugly about the wearers head. For this purpose strings 36 may be attached to the lower front corners of the hood. If desired, these strings may be ar- -ranged as draw strings, like the strings 29 described above, and led through seams in the forward marginal edges of the hood.

By connecting the hood 32 to the jacket 3| with the resilient flexible neck band 35 complete freedom of movement for the wearer, together with the snug iit of the garment, is insured. The elasticity and flexibility of the neck band permits the wearer to move his head relative to his body without any stretching or pulling of the other parts of the garment. Moreover, the elasticity of the neck band also causes the hood to conform to the wearers head and shoulders without causing any stretching or bunching of either the hood or jacket parts. At the same time the neck band can be drawn snugly about the wearers head with the front end secured together under his chin so that cold air cannot enter the neck opening in the jacket. In general, the neck band 35 is arranged to perform substantially the same functions as the neck band 23. When not in use,-the hood may, after retraction of the slide 2|, be folded rearwardly and downwardly against the back of the jacket on the outside thereof.

Although certain particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in some detail for purposes of illustration, there is no intention to thereby limit the appended claims to such embodiment, but, on the other hand,

these claims are intended to cover all modicationsand variations in construction falling Within the spirit and scope of the invention.

This application is a continuation in part of my prior application Serial No. 132,935, filed March 25, 1937.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a garment of a parka type, a jacket body and a hood each formed of relatively stii inelastic material, said body having a neck opening therein and said hood having a neck margin, and a relatively elastic strip forming a neck band connecting said body and hood around the major portion of said opening and being resiliently extensible at least intermediate its ends whereby to relieve strain applied by the hood to the wearers head during forward bending of the latter.

2. In a garment of a parka type, a jacket body and a hood each formed of relatively stii inelastic material, said body having a top margin dening a neck opening, and a strip of relatively elastic fabric forming a neck band and secured along its opposite edges to said top margin and to the lower edge of said hood, said hood being fashioned to be spread out flat over the inside of the back of said body when said elastic band is folded forwardly and downwardly.

3. In a garment of a parka type, a jacket and a hood, said jacket having a neck opening therein and said hood having an elongated notch formed in. the lower marginal edge thereof, a strip of relatively elastic knitted fabric inset into said notch and secured to said hood part at its upper edge and ends, the lower edge of said knitted fabric strip being secured to the inner side of said jacket adjacent said neck opening, and said hood being secured to said jacket adjacent the ends of said strip with the remaining lower marginal edge portion of said hood forming flaps adapted to iiex inwardly around the wearers neck, and strings attached to said flaps for drawing the hood snugly about the wearers face and under the chin.

4. In a garment of a parka type, a jacket body and a hood, said body having a neck opening therein bordered by a collar, and a strip of relatively elastic fabric forming a neck band and secured at its upper and lower edges respectively to the lower marginal edge of said hood and to said jacket along the line of juncture thereof with said collar, said hood being fashioned to be spread out flat over the inside of the back of said jacket when said elastic band is folded downwardly.

5. A parka comprising a jacket body having a neck margin, a hood, an elongated strip of resiliently extensible material such as knitted fabric having opposite side edges secured to said neck margin and the lower edge of said hood, and means providing a substantially non-extensible connection between said margin and said hood adjacent the ends of said strip.

LEONARD SHANHOUSE. 

